Over 20 million cutting-edge security cameras have been installed by China in what is believed to be the world’s most advanced surveillance system. The camera system, facilitated with artificial intelligence technology, is part of the ‘Sky Net’ operation, which is China’s anti-corruption programme mainly aimed to track down fugitives.

Such technology can identify a pedestrian or a motorist, thus it can help policemen in their search for criminals.

According to dailymail.co.uk, video footage posted by China Central Television in a documentary recently displayed what a real-time CCTV captures on screen. It has then been shared and re-posted by the local media.

According to nextshark.com, the demo shows that the system is able to identify a person’s age, gender, and color of the clothes. Information on vehicles, such as the type and color are also identified. The tech relies on its pedestrian-scanning system utilizing computer vision technology to accurately identify targets. Authorities are then able to track criminals with the use of GPS tracking and facial recognition. If a person of interest matching any criminal in the database is captured by the camera, the police are immediately alerted.

The same technology can apply on vehicles as well, identifying the type of vehicles and its colour.

K618.cn reported that the pedestrian-scanning function used computer vision technology to pinpoint passersby on the road. A signal will be alarmed to the police if the recognition matches any criminals in the database.

Operation ‘Sky Net’ was launched in 2015 as the Chinese central government aimed to hunt for corrupt fugitive officials, crack down on underground banks and confiscate misappropriated assets. It has now extended to catch fugitives in local community in different cities across China.

In April, China has started to use facial recognition technology to catch jaywalkers in Shenzhen. Portraits of offenders will be uploaded to a LED screen displayed on the side of the road immediately.

The new surveillance system had feared the citizens that the technology was a use to monitor their daily lives.